Nainital, Sept 25 (ZEENEWS.COM) PM Manmohan Singh on Sunday strongly defended the joint mechanism with Pakistan to fight terrorism saying that it would be effective in testing the neighbour’s motive in dealing with the menace. He also said that there has been no softening or change in government’s stand on the issue.

PM Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi addressed a press conference here at the conclusion of a conclave of Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states.

PM on Pakistan

Noting that there had been a "trust deficit" between India and Pakistan, Prime Minister Singh said the two countries have to find ways and means to tackle their problems including terrorism.

Singh said the two countries had to find ways to reconcile their positions with regard to Jammu and Kashmir, considering that New Delhi has maintained that there can be no redrawing of borders and Islamabad has said it will not accept the Line of Control as the permanent border.

In an apparent rejoinder to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee`s attack on the decision to set up joint mechanism with Pakistan to tackle terrorism, Singh said his predecessor had invited president Pervez Musharraf to Delhi in 2001 after the Kargil conflict, shook hands with the Pakistani leader after the terror attack on Parliament in 2001 and then travelled to Islamabad in 2004.

Referring to his meeting with Musharraf in Havana last week on the sidelines of the NAM summit, Singh said he had a "very good meeting" with the Pakistani leader during which the two sides decided to go ahead with resumption of their composite dialogue, under which all issues including Jammu and Kashmir will be discussed.

PM played down “unnecessary criticism� of government’s stand on terror stating that there has been no change in its stand in dealing with the issue.

Law and order

PM Manmohan Singh said that during the two-day conclave the Chief Ministers gave important inputs over the law and order situation in their states. He said that while formulating policies to deal with issues like Naxalism and communalism, these suggestions would be fairly effective.

No revival of Pota

PM categorically ruled that there would not be any consideration for bringing back Pota. He also clarified that no law similar to it was under consideration. However, he refused to comment on whether the government was thinking of releasing those detained in the NDA regime under the draconian law.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi said that the government would make sure that innocent people or a particular community should not be targetted in the name of anti-terror measures.

Asked whether she would again become Chairperson of the National Advisory Council, a post she quit in the wake of the controversy over the Office of Profit issue, Gandhi said, "I have not taken any decision whether to go back or not.�

Land reforms and Agriculture Ministry

PM gave the assurance that government would try its best to give due rights to the peasants and help them in dealing with all problems. He said that assistance would be provided to them in getting loans from banks.

Both Sonia Gandhi and the PM said that agriculture was their priority while Congress President blamed NDA for neglecting the sector.

Putting to rest all speculation about differences with Sharad Pawar, Sonia Gandhi said she was satisfied with the functioning of the Agriculture Ministry under him.

“Agriculture Ministry is functioning in an effective manner,� said Sonia. She said that she had met Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar just before the Congress conclave and had discussed certain problem areas in the sector.

Blaming NDA government’s policies for the neglect of agricultural sector, she said that government would require time to improve the conditions of the farmers.

Disinvestment, NREGA and SEZs

Steering clear of the controversial issue of sale of government equity in PSUs, PM said the UPA would talk to its partners before revisiting Nalco disinvestment, which had been put on hold due to difference in the ruling coalition. "We will talk to our colleagues before we move forward in that direction (disinvestment)," he said.

Speaking on NREGA, Sonia Gandhi said that it has already been implemented effectively in several states. However, she added that the work in other states was still on.

Asked about the diversion of prime agricultural land for SEZs and if there was a need to rethink the SEZ policy, Gandhi said that "some of the views expressed were that perhaps we should be cautious while giving away the land. One should think in terms of, perhaps, long-term impact of the SEZ policy.

"But this in no way means that we should not continue in this regard (SEZ policy)," she added.

Sonia endorses full faith in PM

Setting at rest speculation, Congress president Sonia Gandhi ruled out the appointment of a Deputy Prime Minister, and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said there would be no change in guard in the Home Ministry.

"I am satisfied with the performance of the government. I am absolutely satisfied with Dr Manmohan Singh," UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi told a joint press conference with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the end of a two-day Congress chief ministers` conclave here.

To a question, Gandhi expressed satisfaction at the performance of the UPA government and the Prime Minister during the two-and-a-half years of the coalition.

On being asked if there was a need for a course correction, she said, "I don`t think there is a need for course correction. We are working according to the promises we have made in the Congress party manifesto and the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) which we worked out with the coalition partners."

However, a new Foreign Minister would be appointed in "due course of time", Singh said.

"Absolutely there is not going to be a Deputy Prime Minister, I am saying so categorically," UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi told a joint press conference with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the end of a two-day Congress chief ministers` conclave here.

Though the question was addressed to the Prime Minister, Gandhi answered it.

To a question on when an External Affairs Minister will be appointed, Singh said, "You will get to know in due course of time."

Singh also scotched reports about the removal of Home Minister Shivraj Patil in the wake of terror attacks in Mumbai and Malegaon, saying he was "fully satisfied" with the Home Ministry`s performance.

Gandhi parried a question on the performance of the Home Ministry, saying, "I do not think this is something I would like to share...There`s been no criticism..."

On TRS pull out

Sonia Gandhi firmly said that there had not been any deceit on the part of the Congress in dealing with its former coalition partner TRS. She said that doors were not still closed for their former ally, rather government is trying to do its best to build consensus on the issue.

She reaffirmed that the UPA government had been trying to build a consensus on the issue of Telangana as was promised in the Common Minimum Programme.

Asked to comment on criticism about the Congress not following the coalition dharma, Gandhi sought to dismiss such a notion by saying that the Left Parties had said they would not join the government but be part of a Coordination Committee.

She said a reshuffle in the AICC would be carried out as soon as possible.

Asked whether her recent talks with Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee was an indicator of her coming back to the Congress, Gandhi said, "my talks with Mamata are not related to her coming back or not."